Photos:
As Staunch as Mountain
(By Pilot Colonel Ali Alizadeh)
Two or three years after the beginning of the imposed war, I had the honor of being Martyr Ardestani's neighbor and we were also on visiting terms. Whenever one of us went on leave, he or she entrusted the house key to the other one to keep an eye on it, and to water the plants too.
Once I was sitting at home. The doorbell rang some minutes before noon. I opened the door. Haj Mostafa was standing in the corridor at the other side of the door. Hello, please come in! Hello, I won't bother you. If you need anything to do, you can let me know about it. I am at your service. He paused, than he said, "Mr. Alizadeh made a phone call to me and told me that my brother had been martyred and my mother is showing too much restlessness. Could you do me a favor and inform the operation room to let him have some days off when you go to the office tomorrow" He had received news of his brother's martyrdom in the exile, but I didn't see any signs of sadness or grief in his eyes. Martyr Ardestani gave me his home key while he was smiling as usual and said, "Mr. Alizadeh! Don't forget to water the flowers. Meanwhile, you can find half of a water melon left in the fridge, be sure to have it so that nothing will be wasted."
As I had been surprised by such a large amount of patience and stamina, I envied him and first I congratulated and then condoled with him on the death of his Basseeji brother. I went to his home to water the flowers the following day. I acted according to the recommendation of that martyr to take the watermelon.
I saw unbelievably that there was only half of the watermelon left. Once again I praised the contenting morale of that man of God who always took careful measures when he was using the Godly assets not to get used to extravagance.
Two or three years after the beginning of the imposed war, I had the honor of being Martyr Ardestani's neighbor and we were also on visiting terms. Whenever one of us went on leave, he or she entrusted the house key to the other one to keep an eye on it, and to water the plants too.
Once I was sitting at home. The doorbell rang some minutes before noon. I opened the door. Haj Mostafa was standing in the corridor at the other side of the door. Hello, please come in! Hello, I won't bother you. If you need anything to do, you can let me know about it. I am at your service. He paused, than he said, "Mr. Alizadeh made a phone call to me and told me that my brother had been martyred and my mother is showing too much restlessness. Could you do me a favor and inform the operation room to let him have some days off when you go to the office tomorrow" He had received news of his brother's martyrdom in the exile, but I didn't see any signs of sadness or grief in his eyes. Martyr Ardestani gave me his home key while he was smiling as usual and said, "Mr. Alizadeh! Don't forget to water the flowers. Meanwhile, you can find half of a water melon left in the fridge, be sure to have it so that nothing will be wasted."
As I had been surprised by such a large amount of patience and stamina, I envied him and first I congratulated and then condoled with him on the death of his Basseeji brother. I went to his home to water the flowers the following day. I acted according to the recommendation of that martyr to take the watermelon.
I saw unbelievably that there was only half of the watermelon left. Once again I praised the contenting morale of that man of God who always took careful measures when he was using the Godly assets not to get used to extravagance.
